Plus-sized clothing for children

ABSTRACT

A line of plus-sized clothing has been developed for oversized infants, toddlers, and older children. The dimensions of this clothing line is generally up to 7 inches greater than the respective dimensions of standard sized children&#39;s clothing with the exception of the length of the clothing. That is, the length of the clothing is about equivalent to that of the standard sized clothing, where the categories of standard-sized clothing generally are 0-18 month sized infant clothing, 2t-4t sized toddler clothing, and 4-8 sized children clothing. Depending on the type of clothing, the dimensions of increased size may be the waist width, the hip width, the chest width, the shoulder width, the sleeve width, the leg width, and/or the arm hole opening diameter.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to children's clothing, and more particularly to plus-sized clothing for infants, toddlers, and older children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today there are many infants, toddlers, and older children who are larger in size than the average child of the same age. The parents of those children are faced with the difficult task of finding clothing which properly fits their child. However, clothing sized to fit oversized children remains unavailable despite a long-felt need of parents for such clothing. The children's clothing industry appears to have failed to develop a line of clothing suitable for such children.

In an attempt to overcome this problem, some parents have resorted to purchasing clothing intended for children older than their own. However, the length of such clothing is generally too long to properly fit the oversized, younger child. As a result, parents of oversized children are forced to take extra measures to have their child's clothing shortened in length. A line of clothing for oversized children that properly fits all the dimensions of a child, including the length and waist width, is therefore desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A line of plus-sized clothing has been developed for oversized (e.g., bigger, larger, or wider than average) infants, toddlers, and older children. The dimensions of this clothing line is generally up to about 7 inches greater than the respective dimensions of standard-sized children's clothing with the exception of the length of the clothing. The length of the plus-sized clothing is about equivalent to that of the standard-sized clothing, where the categories of standard-sized clothing generally are 0-18 month sized infant clothing, 2t-4t sized toddler clothing, and 4-8 sized children clothing. Depending on the type of clothing, the dimensions of increased size may be the waist width, the hip width, the chest width, the shoulder width, the sleeve width, the leg width, and/or the arm hole opening diameter.

This new clothing line advantageously gives oversized children the opportunity to wear clothing that properly fits all their dimensions. Accordingly, parents of such children are no longer burdened with being unable to find properly fitting clothing for their child. They also no longer need to buy clothing that is too long in length for their child, thus saving the time and money required to alter the length such clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a design pattern for the front of a conventional A-line dress having a standard girl's size.

FIG. 2 is a design pattern for the front of a plus-sized A-line dress in accordance with an embodiment described herein.

FIG. 3 is a design pattern for the back of the conventional A-line dress shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a design pattern for the back of the plus-sized A-line dress shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to an embodiment, a new plus-sized (hereinafter referred to as “fluffy-sized”) line of clothing for infants is contemplated that may include various types of clothing. Examples of such clothing include but are not limited to shirts, pants, jeans, overalls, capri pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, dresses, sweat pants, sweat shirts, sweaters, jackets, coats, swimsuits, swim trunks, body suits, onesies, one-piece rompers, pajama tops, pajama pants, gowns, and underwear. Each article of fluffy-sized clothing for infants may have a waist width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than the respective standard waist width of a newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing. The waist width preferably ranges from about 3½ to about 4½ inches greater than the respective standard waist width of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing. Further, the length of the article of clothing may measure within about 2 inches of the respective standard length of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing and is preferably about equivalent to the respective standard length. Depending on the type of clothing, other dimensions of the clothing may be up to about 7 inches, alternatively from about 3½ inches to about 4½ inches, greater than the respective standard dimensions of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing. Such dimensions may include but are not limited to chest width, hip width, shoulder width, sleeve width, leg width, and arm hole diameter. Standard methods of making clothing as known in the art may be applied to make such fluffy-sized infant clothing.

In another embodiment, a new fluffy-sized line of clothing for toddlers is contemplated. This line of clothing also may include a wide variety of clothing such as shirts, pants, jeans, overalls, capri pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, dresses, sweat pants, sweat shirts, sweaters, jackets, coats, swimsuits, swim trunks, one-piece rompers, pajama tops, pajama pants, gowns, and underwear. Each article of fluffy-sized clothing for toddlers may have a waist width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than the respective standard waist width of a 2t to 4t (i.e., 2t, 3t, or 4t) sized article of clothing. The waist width preferably ranges from about 3½ to about 4½ inches greater than the respective standard waist width of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing. Further, the length of the article of clothing may measure within about 2 inches of the respective standard length of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing and is preferably about equivalent to the respective standard length. Depending on the type of clothing, other dimensions of the clothing may be up to about 7 inches, alternatively from about 3½ inches to about 4½ inches, greater than the respective standard dimensions of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing. Examples of those dimensions may include but are not limited to chest width, hip width, shoulder width, sleeve width, leg width, and arm hole diameter. Standard methods of making clothing as known in the art may be applied to make such fluffy-sized toddler clothing.

In yet another embodiment, a new fluffy-sized line of clothing for older girls and boys is contemplated. A wide variety of clothing may be incorporated in this line of clothing, including but not limited to shirts, pants, jeans, overalls, capri pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, dresses, sweat pants, sweat shirts, sweaters, jackets, coats, swimsuits, swim trunks, pajama tops, pajama pants, gowns, and underwear. Each article of fluffy-sized clothing for older children has a waist width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than the respective standard waist width of a 4 to 8 (i.e., 4, 5, 6, 6x, 7, or 8) sized article of clothing. The waist width preferably ranges from about 3½ to about 4½ inches greater than the respective standard waist width of the 4 to 8 sized article of clothing. Further, the length of the article of clothing may measure within about 2 inches of the respective standard length of the 4 to 8 sized article of clothing and is preferably about equivalent to the respective standard length. Depending on the type of clothing, other dimensions of the clothing may be up to about 7 inches, alternatively from about 3½ inches to about 4½ inches, greater than the respective standard dimensions of the 4 to 8 sized article of clothing. Examples of those dimensions include but are not limited to chest width, hip width, shoulder width, sleeve width, leg width, and arm hole diameter. Standard methods of making clothing as known in the art may be applied to make such fluffy-sized children's clothing.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the differences between the dimensions of a conventional children's clothing line and a fluffy-sized children's clothing line. In particular, FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary design pattern 10 of the front of a conventional A-line dress for a standard-sized girl. Design pattern 10 has an overall length L₁ and an overall width W₁. FIG. 2 depicts a design pattern 20 similar to that of pattern 10 except that it is for the front of an A-line dress of a fluffy-sized girl having the same height but larger lateral dimensions than the standard-sized girl. That is, the overall length L₂ of pattern 20 is equivalent to L₁. However, the overall width W₂ of pattern 20 is larger than W₁, indicating the larger waist width, hip width, and chest width of pattern 20 as compared to pattern 10. The width across the neckline 22 of pattern 20 also is larger than the width across the neckline 12 of pattern 10. As such, a fluffy-sized dress made using pattern 20 would have a larger shoulder width (i.e., width between shoulders) than that of a standard-sized dress made using pattern 10. Moreover, the armhole opening 24 of pattern 20 is larger in diameter than the armhole opening 14 of pattern 10.

Turning to FIG. 3, a design pattern 30 is shown that represents the back of the standard-sized A-line dress presented in FIG. 1. In contrast, FIG. 4 depicts a design pattern 40 for the back of a fluffy-sized A-line dress. Design pattern 40 has an overall length L₄ that is equivalent to the overall length L₃ of design pattern 30. However, the overall width W₄ of pattern 40 is larger than the overall width W₃ of pattern 30, indicating the larger waist width, hip width, and chest width of pattern 40 as compared to pattern 20. The neckline 42 of pattern 40 is also wider than the neckline 32 of pattern 30 such that the resulting fluffy-sized dress has a larger shoulder width than that of the resulting standard-sized dress. Moreover, the armhole opening 44 of pattern 40 is larger in diameter than the armhole opening 34 of pattern 30.

Tables 1A-3B below further illustrate the differences between a conventional children's clothing line and a fluffy-sized children's clothing line. Tables 1A and 1B compare a sizing chart for infants requiring standard-sized clothing to a sizing chart for infants requiring fluffy-sized clothing. Likewise, Tables 2A and 2B compare a sizing chart for toddlers requiring standard-sized clothing to a sizing chart for toddlers requiring fluffy-sized clothing. Further, Tables 3A and 3B compare a sizing chart for older children requiring standard-sized clothing to a sizing chart for older children requiring fluffy-sized clothing. In Tables 1B, 2B, and 3B, “f” denotes the fluffy size that replaces an equivalent standard size. TABLE 1A Infant Size Height (in.) Chest (in.) Waist (in.) Hips (in.) Weight (lbs.) 0-3 months 22½-24½ 17 18 17½ 10-13 3-6 months 25-27 17½ 18½ 18 14-18 6-12 months  27½-29 19 19 19 19-22 12-18 months  29½-31 20 19½ 20 22½-25½

TABLE 1B Infant Fluffy Size Height (in.) Chest (in.) Waist (in.) Hips (in.) Weight (lbs.) 0-3f months 22½-24½ 17-22 18-23 17½-21½ 14-17 3-6f months 25-27 17½-21½ 18½-22½ 18-23 18-22 6-12f months  27½-29 19-23 19-24 19-24 23-26 12-18f months  29½-31 21-26 19½-24½ 20-25 26½-29½

TABLE 2A Toddler Size Height (in.) Chest (in.) Waist (in.) Hips (in.) 2t 33 21 20 22 3t 36 22 20½ 23 4t 39 23 21 24

TABLE 2B Toddler Fluffy Size Height (in.) Chest (in.) Waist (in.) Hips (in.) 2tf 33 21-25 20-24 22-26 3tf 36 22-26 20½-24½ 23-27 4tf 39 23-27 21-25 24-28

TABLE 3A Girl/Boy Size Height (in.) Chest (in.) Waist (in.) Hips (in.) 4 39 23 21 23 5 42 23½ 21½ 24 6 45 24½ 22 25 6x 47 25½ 22½ 26 7 49 26 22½ 27 8 52 27 23 28

TABLE 3B Girl/Boy Fluffy Size Height (in.) Chest (in.) Waist (in.) Hips (in.) 4f 39 23-27 22-27 24-28 5f 42 24½-29½ 21½-26½ 25-30 6f 45 25½-30½ 23-28 26-31 6xf 47 26½-31½ 23½-28½ 27-32 7f 49 27-32 23½-28½ 28-33 8f 52 28-33 24-29 29-34

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and teachings of the invention. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only, and are not intended to be limiting. Many variations and modifications of the invention disclosed herein are possible and are within the scope of the invention. Use of the term “optionally” with respect to any element of a claim is intended to mean that the subject element is required, or alternatively, is not required. Both alternatives are intended to be within the scope of the claim.

Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the description set out above but is only limited by the claims which follow, that scope including all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Each and every claim is incorporated into the specification as an embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the claims are a further description and are an addition to the preferred embodiments. The discussion of a reference herein is not an admission that it is prior art, especially any reference that may have a publication date after the priority date of this application. The disclosures of all patents, patent applications, and publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference, to the extent that they provide exemplary, procedural, or other details supplementary to those set forth herein. 

1. An article of clothing for an oversized child, having: (a) a waist width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard waist width of a 2t to 4t sized article of clothing; and (b) a length measuring within about 2 inches of a respective standard length of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing.
 2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the waist width is from about 3½ to about 4½ inches greater than the respective standard waist width of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing.
 3. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the length is about equivalent to the respective standard length of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing.
 4. The article of clothing of claim 1, further having a chest width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard chest width of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing.
 5. The article of clothing of claim 1, further having a hip width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard hip width of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing.
 6. The article of clothing of claim 1, further having an arm hole diameter measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard arm hole diameter of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing.
 7. The article of clothing of claim 1, further having a shoulder width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective shoulder width of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing.
 8. The article of clothing of claim 1, further having a sleeve width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective sleeve width of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing.
 9. The article of clothing of claim 1, further having a leg width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective leg width of the 2t to 4t sized article of clothing.
 10. The article of clothing of claim 1, being a shirt, pants, jeans, overalls, capri pants, shorts, a skirt, a skort, a dress, sweat pants, a sweat shirt, a sweater, a jacket, a coat, a swimsuit, swim trunks, a one-piece romper, a pajama top, pajama pants, a gown, or underwear.
 11. An article of clothing for an oversized child, having: (a) a waist width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard waist width of a 4 to 8 sized article of clothing; and (b) a length measuring within about 2 inches of a respective standard length of the 4 to 8 sized article of clothing.
 12. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the waist width is from about 3½ to about 4½ inches greater than the respective standard waist width of the 4 to 8 sized article of clothing.
 13. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the length is about equivalent to the respective standard length of the 4 to 8 sized article of clothing.
 14. The article of clothing of claim 11, further having a chest width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard chest width of a 4 to 8 sized article of clothing.
 15. The article of clothing of claim 11, further having a hip width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard hip width of a 4 to 8 sized article of clothing.
 16. The article of clothing of claim 11, further having an arm hole diameter measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard arm hole diameter of the 4 to 8 sized article of clothing.
 17. The article of clothing of claim 11, further having a shoulder width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard shoulder width of the 4 to 8 sized article of clothing.
 18. The article of clothing of claim 11, further having a sleeve width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard sleeve width of the 4 to 8 sized article of clothing.
 19. The article of clothing of claim 11, further having a leg width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard leg width of the 4 to 8 sized article of clothing.
 20. The article of clothing of claim 11, being a shirt, pants, jeans, overalls, capri pants, shorts, a skirt, a skort, a dress, sweat pants, a sweat shirt, a sweater, a jacket, a coat, a swimsuit, swim trunks, a pajama top, pajama pants, a gown, or underwear.
 21. An article of clothing for an oversized infant, having: (a) a waist width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard waist width of a newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing; and (b) a length measuring within about 2 inches of a respective standard length of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing.
 22. The article of clothing of claim 22, wherein the waist width is from about 3½ to about 4½ inches greater than the respective standard waist width of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing.
 23. The article of clothing of claim 22, wherein the length is about equivalent to the respective standard length of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing.
 24. The article of clothing of claim 22, further having a chest width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard chest width of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing;
 25. The article of clothing of claim 22, further having a hip width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard hip width of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing.
 26. The article of clothing of claim 22, further having an arm hole diameter measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard arm hole diameter of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing.
 27. The article of clothing of claim 22, further having a shoulder width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard shoulder width of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing.
 28. The article of clothing of claim 22, further having a sleeve width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard sleeve width of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing.
 29. The article of clothing of claim 22, further having a leg width measuring up to about 7 inches greater than a respective standard leg width of the newborn to 18 month sized article of clothing.
 30. The article of clothing of claim 22, being a shirt, pants, jeans, overalls, capri pants, shorts, a skirt, a skort, a dress, sweat pants, a sweat shirt, a sweater, a jacket, a coat, a swimsuit, swim trunks, a body suit, a onesie, a one-piece romper, a pajama top, pajama pants, a gown, or underwear. 